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Time to Get Your Irish On!

We’re all Irish at heart on St. Patrick’s Day; after all, who doesn’t enjoy rousing Irish music and tasty Irish fare with a pint of Guiness or a sip of Irish whiskey? If once a year is all you get, then you have it give it all you’ve got! We wanted to find the consumate Irish experience in rural Ontario, so we consulted with the expert, Bill Perrie of The Pub Magazine, Canada’s preminent source of all things pub related. We knew Bill, author of Ontario’s Hidden Gems – A Pub Lover’s Guide, wouldn`t steer us wrong. We put our heads together to come up with our list of eight great places where a jig will be the official dance of the day:

1. The Irish Harp Pub, 245 King St., Niagara on the Lake - This landmark pub is home to an authentic Irish party every night of the year. Owner Trevor Smyth, who hails from County Derry, has gone to great lengths to make this pub as authentic as possible, including shipping the custom-built bar directly from Ireland. Serving 24 draught beers, including their own locally brewed house brand, The Irish Harp also serves great whiskey and plenty of old-fashioned Irish “craic” (fun and chat). St. Patrick`s Day festivites include Irish musicians, Ceol Cara beginning at 3 p.m.

2. The Albion Hotel, 1 Main St. N., Bayfield – Bayfield is a hotspot on St. Patrick’s Day and The Albion is no exception. Having served as a hostelery for over 145 years, The Albion Hotel is a favourite stop for food, drink, and above all, rest. With four quaint bed & breakfast accommodations, a friendly dining room and inviting pub, you’ll feel right at home. Join them on St. Patrick’s Day for a pint of Guinness and some traditional Irish music and fare. You’re sure to feel welcome and part of the fun.

3. The Black Dog Village Pub and Bistro, 5 Main St. N., Bayfield – Come to the Black Dog where Guinness and good times are always on tap. The Black Dog has 20 unique draught beers and a great selection of bottled beers. Owner’s Ted and Kathleen know a thing or two about creating an authentic St. Patrick’s Day experience, and they’re serving up gourmet Irish fare like Emerald Isle Soup with Dubliner Cheddar Crostini, Guinness & Honey- glazed Pork Loin, and Black Velvet Guinness Cake with Bailey’s Cream Cheese Icing. Live music will round out the night, making it an Irish indulgence you won’t want to miss.

4. Old Joe’s Cabin, 402 Durham St. E., Walkerton – This cozy restaurant and bar is just the kind of place you could get comfortable chatting (or singing) over a pint of Guiness. This St. Patrick’s Day they’ll be serving up Old Joe’s all-you-can-eat famous beer battered Fish’n'Chips for $14.99. With traditional Irish music and great ambiance, what better way is there to celebrate? You can find Old Joe’s Cabin on Facebook.

5. Trinity Irish Pub, 75 Consumers Drive, Whitby – Whitby is definitely getting their green on – with seven days of Irish celebrations! Trinity Irish Pub is featuring a whole week of festivities which include a Guinness sampling with complimentary pot pies on Friday night and a brunch on Saturday. On the big day, there will be lots of live entertainment and a Guinness Toast at midnight. It’s a night you won’t want to miss, but to avoid the St. Patrick’s Day line ups, be there at midnight on Saturday for your all-access pass to the next day’s party.

6. The Grey Goat, 74 Main St. S., Newmarket – Celebrate St Paddy’s Day at Newmarket’s oldest pub with lots of Irish food and prizes this Sunday. Live Entertainment begins at noon with Mike Arsenault and at 5pm with Travis Woods. You can find The Grey Goat on Facebook.

7. The Dam Pub Gastropub, 53 Bruce St., Thornbury – Located a stone’s throw away from Blue Mountain in Collingwood, The Dam Pub is the home to over 500 whiskies from around the world, including over 300 single malts, plus 10 great brews on tap. The St. Paddy’s festivities feature good food and drink, with Irish Celtic musicians Saskia Tomkins and Steafan Hannigan taking the stage at 3 p.m. They will perform two more sets that evening to take you through to close….sounds like the makings of a Ceilidh!

8. Harley’s Pub and Perk, 87 Elora St., Mildmay - This historic bar oozes with charm. Located in a century-old building that features exposed stone interior walls, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Yet, Harley’s is equipped with most modern amenities, including a 100″ flatscreen TV, free WIFI and 10 draught beers. The St. Patrick’s Day party at Harley’s is happening on Saturday March 16th with Midnite Ryder playing from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

–Erin

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